World of Chemicals - latest chemistry news, articles, research, jobs, academics: May 2017

Wednesday, 31 May 2017

BASF’s second trend book presents innovative plastic solutions

LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY: BASF SE has launched “'Material Selection 17/18”, the second material trend book that provides a global outlook on trends and materials. It presents innovative plastics solutions that help customers face these trends.

The first trend book “Material Selection 16/17”, provides answers to How are a Bolivian indigenous tribe and transfer coating technology related? What is the connection between a fitness app on your cell phone and semi-rigid foam? And what does this material feel like?

The trend book was jointly developed by the designfabrik experts in Tokyo, Shanghai and Ludwigshafen.

The trend researchers and designers of the plastics division from both regions worked together to offer ideas and inspiration for future product developments for customers. The trend study is exclusively available to designers and other creatives of customers and potential customers as part of a scheduled personal presentation, the company said.

Morphology – materials for a changing world

In times of accelerating changes, the speed of technological innovations increases significantly, too. From traditional combustion engines to cars powered by electricity, from cars traditionally controlled by steering to autonomous driving: Materials are needed that can keep up with these dynamic changes in a three-dimensional space. For these applications, in particular, BASF presents a new film made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with a flexible coating, which could possibly be used in automotive interiors or furniture.

Mindfulness means more attention – for oneself and the environment

BASF’s study in the second trend is based on an increased awareness for traces of human behaviour and action. Both are traceable in the sediments of the earth; data, things and residue remain on this planet. The desire for materials fulfilling customers’ demands without leaving traces is growing. Here, BASF offers a biobased particle foam which is very robust and also fully compostable. The material is attractive where sensitive or heavy goods should be protected by biobased and biodegradable transport packaging.

Material study supports global concept for innovations with and for customers

The trend book supports the creative ideas of customers and demonstrates where materials in design concepts can produce the next innovation.

'”We do not see trends as singular phenomena but as a chain of developments. Two main trends emerge as a result of this chain reaction: Morphology and Mindfulness. We believe that they will be majorly influential. With this study, we offer customers a way to materialise these trends,” said Alex Horisberger, designfabrik Ludwigshafen, BASF.

“When ideas are ready to challenge the future, our material solutions are ready to enable designs shaping the future,” added Johnny Zhang, designfabrik Shanghai, BASF, the two trends.

The state of the chemical industry: What's ahead in 2017

Rising standards of living and a growing middle class in emerging markets will drive ongoing strong demand for chemicals, as more end-users in these markets purchase and use appliances, consumer goods, automobiles, and other products that require a growing use of chemicals especially advanced materials involved in additive manufacturing.

But despite this slow but steady demand growth, the industry is experiencing significant disruption as we enter the new year.

Relatively low feedstock prices, low-interest rates, shifts toward modernizing and realigning chemical company portfolios for optimum growth, drops in agricultural prices, a regulatory environment that is changing for the first time in decades, and a retreat on both sides of the Atlantic away from globalism are driving an urgent need for chemical companies to modernize their development, planning, and production processes.

We do not expect most of these trends to abate in the coming year. In fact, many of them will likely intensify and will dominate the industry landscape in 2017. And virtually all of them will be touched by digital transformation.

Four chemical industry trends to watch

There are four broad trends currently defining the chemical industry, each affecting a different element of business, from operations through production and compliance. They were all on display in 2016 and will continue through 2017.

Mergers and acquisitions: 2016 saw notable consolidation in the form of multiple mergers and acquisitions. A result of slow overall industry growth and a desire to consolidate resources and capabilities in the areas of the most promising growth, M&A is also being driven by growing pressure to gather the resources needed for digital transformation. Mega-mergers are radically altering the top of the industry–a fact that has not escaped the attention of farmers, legislators, and regulatory bodies.

A new regulatory environment: Governments and regulatory bodies around the world are overhauling chemical regulations for the first time in decades. Both environmental and industry groups note that these changes could signal a kind of détente between the chemical industry and its watchdogs over the next few years. In other parts of the world, however, the relationship between the industry, activist groups, and regulatory bodies remains more acrimonious.

Investment: After decades of taking a back seat to emerging markets, North America saw a significant wave of investments in new multi-billion-dollar production facilities from a number of chemical manufacturers. Factors involved in this growth include the considerable size and strength of the regional market and favourable political and regulatory environments in American states with significant chemical production segments.

Digital transformation: Rising demand and growing competition have increased the pressure on all chemical manufacturers to adopt advanced technologies and transform their operations and structures. Improved efficiencies, safety, and reliability can be realised through an implementation of advanced technology–all of which can reduce costs for the manufacturer. These transformations are also enabling new business models that could bring chemical manufacturers closer to their suppliers, their direct customers, and even their end customers.

Moving forward in 2017

Rising standards of living and a growing middle class in emerging markets will drive ongoing strong demand for chemicals, as more end-users purchase appliances, consumer goods, automobiles, and other products that require the use of chemicals and plastics.

But to capitalise on the growth opportunities, the trend toward digital transformation has become an urgent need that will enable chemical companies to modernise their development, planning, and production processes.

As the chemical industry looks for ways to differentiate and excel in a fiercely competitive consolidated environment, leading companies will accelerate their digital transformations – via technology, processes, and people. The most successful companies may be those willing to take the most disruptive, challenge-the-conventional-industry-wisdom approaches to their business models.

AkzoNobel confirmed as exclusive coatings provider of Volvo Ocean Race

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS: AkzoNobel NV has been confirmed as the official Boatyard supplier for the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race. All the boats competing in the next edition will be coated with the company’s International and Awlgrip range of products.

The competing yachts – including team AkzoNobel’s brand new Volvo Ocean 65 – have already been through an extensive refit process and have been coated with Awlgrip products, while the keel on each boat is protected with International coatings.

AkzoNobel has also developed unique custom colours for every team in the race, which will showcase its expertise to a huge global audience. Once the race starts in October, the company will supply all the coatings required for repairs and maintenance at each of the stopovers.

AkzoNobel’s International yacht business will also provide technical expertise and, when required, will supervise the application process during pit stops between races.

Extensive preparations for the race have been taking place for several months at the permanent Volvo Ocean Race Boatyard in Lisbon, Portugal. When the race begins later this year, a massive logistical operation will see the Boatyard travel to all stopovers around the world.

Regarded as the pinnacle of professional, fully-crewed ocean racing, the route for the 2017-18 race will visit some of the most remote and inhospitable areas of the world’s oceans. The boats will have to deal with extreme weather conditions, from freezing cold and raging gales to sweltering heat, so the coatings need to be as tough and durable as the sailors.

“As the world’s leading supplier of marine and yacht coatings, we’re delighted to be partnering with the Volvo Ocean Race as official Boatyard supplier. The race is the ultimate test of performance and, given our long association with the sea, it’s the perfect showcase for the company’s market-leading products,” said Alberto Slikta, managing director of AkzoNobel's speciality coatings business.

PPG issues statement regarding Amsterdam Enterprise Chamber decision

PITTSBURGH, US: PPG Industries Inc has issued the following statement in response to the decision by the Amsterdam Enterprise Chamber:

The matter before the Enterprise Chamber was between AkzoNobel and certain shareholders, who have clearly stated that constructive engagement between AkzoNobel and PPG is in the best interests of all stakeholders.

PPG remains willing to meet with AkzoNobel regarding a potential combination of the two companies, but without productive engagement, PPG will assess and decide whether or not to pursue an offer for AkzoNobel.

PPG said that it will make further announcements if and when appropriate.

Covestro achieves major breakthrough in biobased aniline

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Covestro AG collaborating with partners has achieved a research breakthrough for the use of plant-based raw materials in plastics production. Aniline, an important basic chemical, can now be derived from biomass.

So far, only fossil raw materials had been used for the production of aniline, which plays an important role in the chemical industry and is used as starting material for numerous products.

Following its success in the lab, Covestro plans to further develop the new process together with partners from industry and research. The first step is to upscale the process in a pilot plant with the ultimate goal of enabling the production of bio-based aniline on an industrial scale. That would be an unprecedented achievement in the chemical industry.

Covestro is working with the University of Stuttgart, the CAT Catalytic Center at RWTH Aachen University and Bayer AG to further develop the process.

Unprecedented achievement

About five million metric tonnes of aniline are produced annually worldwide; the total volume has been increasing by an average of about five percent every year. With a production capacity of about one million metric tonnes, Covestro is among the leading producers. The company requires aniline as a precursor for rigid polyurethane foam, a highly efficient insulating material used in buildings and refrigeration systems.

100 percent of carbon from biomass

The industry currently derives aniline from benzene, a petroleum-based raw material. But industrial sugar, which is already derived on large scale from, for example, feed corn, straw and wood, can be used instead. The newly developed process uses a microorganism as a catalyst to first convert the industrial sugar into an aniline precursor. The aniline is then derived by means of chemical catalysis in a second step.

Covestro is already using renewable raw materials in a number of different products. A hardener for coatings that the company developed is one example: up to 70 percent of its carbon content is derived from plants. And CO2 is also increasingly being used an alternative raw material. Used in place of petroleum, CO2 accounts for up to 20 percent of the raw materials used in a precursor for flexible polyurethane foam that Covestro began producing in 2016. The company is also researching and developing many more products based on CO2.

“Being able to derive aniline from biomass is another key step towards making the chemical and plastics industries less dependent on fossil raw materials and market fluctuations. With this, we are pursuing our vision of making the world a brighter place,” said Dr Markus Steilemann, chief commercial officer, Covestro.

“The process currently under development uses renewable raw materials and produces aniline with a much better CO2 footprint than that manufactured with standard technology. This also enables our customers to markedly improve the CO2 footprint of their aniline-based products,” added Dr Gernot Jager, project manager, Covestro.

The long-term research project will receive funding for a period of two and a half years through the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe eV (FNR), a project agency of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

AkzoNobel opens new performance coatings facility in Thailand

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS: AkzoNobel NV has opened a new performance coatings production facility in Chonburi, Thailand. With an investment of €31 million, the company expands its footprint with this ninth production site in the South East Asia region.

The new site will help the company to better serve the customers and reflects AkzoNobel’s continued commitment to the region.

Moreover, the new Chonburi site follows AkzoNobel’s sustainability vision: the plant uses state-of-the-art technology pioneered in US and Europe that will maximise operational efficiency and minimise waste generation. It also adds to AkzoNobel’s organic growth momentum and provides a continuously sustainable footprint.

The new Chonburi site supplies a number of businesses within AkzoNobel and supports the growth and improved customer service for several performance coatings’ businesses, as well as decorative paints.

The performance coatings businesses supported include metal, protective, speciality and marine coatings. The site also provides possible future expansion opportunities for powder coatings.

This site currently employs about 100 people, and that number is expected to grow to 200 employees.

“This new facility highlights our continued focus on adapting to market needs in order to better serve our customers with essential colour and protection. It also plays a key role in driving organic growth for the performance coatings business. The large size of the new site and the already established infrastructure enables later-phase investments for expansion. The Chonburi site will then provide opportunities for possible future expansion and growth in the region,” said Bill Collins, corporate director of AkzoNobel performance coatings business.

Monday, 29 May 2017

Lanxess increases sustainable flame retardants capacity

COLOGNE, GERMANY: Lanxess AG has successfully completed a project which increases the capacity of its Emerald Innovation 3000 flame retardant production unit.The debottlenecking project increases the sustainable production from 10,000 to 14,000 metric tonne per year.

Polystyrene insulating foam makers are changing from using hexabromcyclododecan (HBCD) flame retardants to more sustainable alternatives such as Lanxess’ Emerald Innovation 3000.

Emerald Innovation 3000 is manufactured at Lanxess’s El Dorado, Arkansas (USA) facilities.

The business of Emerald Innovation 3000 was taken over by Lanxess as part of the acquisition of US company Chemtura, which was successfully completed in April 2017.

“About 50 percent of global demand has already adopted the new technology,” says Anno Borkowsky, head of Lanxess’s additives business unit (ADD).

“With global commitment from foam producers to eliminate HBCD use by 2021, the polymeric brominated flame retardant supply base must be capable of supporting necessary customer conversion and certification activities over the next few years with sufficient supply and technical support,“ explained John Davidson, EVP bromine solutions business with ADD.

Praxair, Linde inks formal merger agreement

DANBURY, US: Praxair Inc (PX) has signed in principle a business combination agreement (BCA) with Linde AG, moving a step closer towards completing a merger of equals.

The companies would combine their businesses in a merger of equals under a new holding company through an all-stock transaction, consistent with the transaction structure that the companies announced in December 2016.

The BCA is yet to be approval by the board of directors of Praxair and the executive board and supervisory board of Linde.

Providing platform for sustainable chemistry

Frank Fasdernes, Vice President, Plastic Additives, BASF FZE opens up about the opportunities that the Middle Eastern countries unravel for the chemical industry.

By Debarati Das

Opportunities for the chemical industry in the Middle East.

BASF customers in the Middle East include the region’s main plastics and polymer producers. Traditionally, these companies produced basic chemicals and polymers primarily to leverage their regional feedstock advantage in oil and gas. More recently, we have seen a drive more downstream into performance and speciality segments to add more value and create jobs for the fast-growing young population of the countries in the region. Over time, this means that we will be competing with our customers on some products, but overall, as a solution provider to the entire value chain, for BASF this has opened new opportunities.

With respect to the development of the plastic additives market, we see the strongest market growth in the Middle East, as well as in Asia, especially in China and India.

BASF is the world leader in Customer Specific Blends (CSBs), which represent pre-packaged blends of additives tailored to meet the individual needs of customers, especially in the Middle East. Users in world-scale plants such as those in this region benefit particularly from CSBs, which are characterised by simpler and more accurate dosing and better dispersibility. In 2012, BASF inaugurated its latest state of the art production facilities in Bahrain, mainly producing CSBs based on extruded Irganox® antioxidants for use in polyethylene and polypropylene, to meet the growing and specific needs of the Middle East. The plant in Bahrain complements our already long-term running production in Saudi Arabia, where we have partnered with Astra Polymers.

Trends in the chemical industry in the Middle East.

Pressured by lower oil prices, regional chemical producers have responded with cost-driven restructuring programs, more emphasis on operational excellence and, even more important, greater integration with refining activities. In addition to this, the drive for sustainability is getting more in the focus.

BASF Plastic Additives is supporting its customers in becoming more sustainable by providing tailor-made solutions. For example, see the pressure for the polymer producers to replace TNPP (Tris Nonylphenyl Phosphite) in their products by more sustainable and future-oriented solutions, to stay competitive in the international export markets. With our excellent additives knowledge and extensive product offering, BASF is able to support our customers in achieving this.

Challenges faced by the chemical industry in Middle East.

The biggest challenge chemical producers from the region are facing is currently coming from US shale. Especially the new established American polymer capacities will target export markets with bigger volumes. When oil prices started to recover late 2016, gains were immediately damped by a steady rise of US shale production. For the regional chemical industry, this means that the original competitive advantage of cheap access to feedstock is no longer valid. The industry has to reinvent itself to stay competitive in the global polymer market.

Energy efficient and sustainable solutions in the Middle East.

BASF is the market leader in antioxidants, UV stabilisers and pigments. We have the unique know-how and a deep understanding of the market and are committed worldwide. We very much consider ourselves a sustainability enabler: our innovative additives allow us to improve the processing properties of plastics which lead to energy and waste reduction, increase the lifetime of products, create functional surfaces, and create the space for our customers for new applications. These are all reasons why our customers in the Middle East continue to choose BASF as their partner. We want to lead by example on sustainability. One of the ways in which we do so is by shipping the production waste of BASF Plastics Additives to proper recycling or incineration units outside the Middle East.

BASF activities in the Middle East.

BASF has been active in the Middle East for more than a century, supplying and customising its solutions for almost every industry, mainly Construction, Chemicals & Plastics, Energy & Resources, Water, Consumer goods, Agriculture, Feed and Food industry. BASF in Dubai serves as the sub-regional Head Office and Service Platform for the Middle East. With over 950 employees in the Middle East, BASF works cohesively to meet the local market demands towards its corporate purpose to “create chemistry for a sustainable future”.

The BASF Plastic Additives Middle East (BASF PAME) in Bahrain is our latest added production facility for antioxidant blends in the region, producing customer specific blends (CBS).

The plastic additives market offers significant opportunity for innovation and BASF remain committed to innovation for the plastics industry. Major drivers for innovation include enhanced performance requirements for plastics, increasing regulatory requirements with regards to environmental and consumer safety, especially food contact compliance, and the need of our customers for cost efficient operations. BASF as the market leader in plastic additives is well positioned to benefit from those market trends with its wide range of antioxidants, light stabilisers, and other additives for plastic applications. Based on our strong application know-how we support innovation at our customers in all regions through process specific support from our technical centres in Switzerland, Italy, U.S., and China. With our R&D activities, we are addressing the needs of our customers in their end use markets. Two of the latest product innovations BASF launched at the K show in October 2016 are Tinuvin® XT 55 for very long-lasting artificial turfs, and Tinuvin® 880, a new generation of low molecular weight methylated HALS for automotive interior parts.

Albemarle rating outlook revised to positive: Fitch

CHICAGO, US: A report from the Fitch Ratings Inc states the long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of Albemarle Corporation (ALB) at 'BBB-'.

The rating outlook is revised to positive from stable. Albemarle's ratings reflect its exposure to the growing lithium industry, the relative stability of its bromine and catalysts businesses, strong FCF generation and increased financial flexibility.

Albemarle's credit metrics have improved considerably since the Rockwood transaction was finalised in early 2015 due primarily to strong growth in the company's lithium business and the repayment of greater than $2 billion of debt using proceeds from several divestitures including the sale of its Chemetall business in 2016.

The Positive Outlook reflects Fitch's view that Albemarle's positive operating momentum and strengthened balance sheet paired with a demonstrated track record of adhering to a credit conscious capital allocation policy as the company pursues its strategic goals would likely lead to a positive rating action in the coming 12-18 months.

Key rating drivers

Strong lithium growth profile: Fitch projects the lithium industry will experience substantial growth through the remainder of the decade driven primarily by demand from battery applications in end-markets such as transportation, grid storage and consumer products. Combined, Fitch estimates these end-markets accounted for between 40-45% of total lithium market demand in 2016. Fitch projects the transportation industry will be the strongest growth driver within battery applications due to the continued adoption of electric and plug-in hybrid motor vehicles. The global regulatory push towards less pollutant transportation methods as well as general consumer preference for more fuel efficient vehicles should help underpin strong demand growth in the transportation market for the remainder of the decade.

Planned lithium expenditures: Albemarle publicly guides to between $2-2.2 billion of capital expenditures over the next five years with around $700-$1 billion going towards the company's goal of dramatically expanding its lithium salts and mining/upgrading capacity. Albemarle projects it will have 85,000 tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) of lithium salts capacity and 89,000 tonnes LCE of mining capacity by the end of 2017. It plans to increase the capacity in both lithium salts and mining/upgrading to 165,000 tonnes LCE by 2021 as part of its stated to goal to capture 50% of total lithium demand growth.

Oligopolistic markets: The markets for bromine, lithium, and refining catalysts are highly concentrated, and Albemarle is a key player benefiting from low-cost production and pricing power. The company is the second largest bromine producer after Israel Chemicals Ltd., the second largest lithium producer after Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A., and a leader in the catalysts space. Market positions are supported by significant barriers to entry; for bromine and lithium, access to low-cost minerals, technology and track record.

Stable demand in catalysts and bromine: Bromine specialities and Refining Solutions generally serve mature markets that grow at or around GDP levels. Fitch believes the bromine industry is in secular decline given bromine's prime application as a flame retardant for consumer electronics where demand has declined steadily since 2011. However, Albemarle boasts one of the lowest cost positions in the bromine industry and is a leader in most bromine derivatives, allowing it to maintain EBITDA margins around 28%. Fitch projects growth in the segment to average around 0-1% going forward and expects the company to run the business with a focus on cash generation to help fund the lithium buildout.

Reliable FCF generation: Strong growth in lithium and stable demand in bromine/catalysts should enable Albemarle to generate between $150-200 million of FCF on average. Fitch believes this strong cash flow profile will give Albemarle the flexibility to pursue inorganic growth methods in lithium while still allowing the company to self-fund its CapEx and dividend growth.

Key assumptions

Fitch's key assumptions within our rating case for the issuer include:

Lithium and Advanced Materials revenue growth of between 10-15% on average through 2019 with EBITDA margins averaging around 38-40%;

Refining Solutions revenue growing around 1%-3% on average and EBITDA margins around 30%;

Revenue growth for Bromine Specialities generally flat with EBITDA margins around 28%;

Heightened CapEx through the forecast horizon reflecting planned expenditures in lithium;

Dividend growth consistent with public guidance.

The rating outlook is revised to positive from stable.

Shell starts deepwater production at FPSO in Brazil

HOUSTON, US: Royal Dutch Shell plc and consortium partners have started deepwater production at FPSO P-66, located in Lula South, Brazilian pre-salt of the Santos Basin.

Positioned in 2,150-metre water depth, the P-66 can process up to 150,000 barrels of oil and 6 million cubic meters of natural gas per day. The unit is the first in a series of standardised vessels operated by Petrobras to begin production within the BM-S-11 block consortium and the seventh to produce within the consortium overall.

Shell has a 25 percent stake in the consortium developing the Lula field in the BM-S-11 block. Petrobras operates the field with a 65 percent interest, and Galp Energia, through its subsidiary Petrogal Brasil, holds the remaining 10 percent interest.

The P-66 is the tenth deep-water FPSO in operation across Shell's working interest in the pre-salt areas of Santos Basin. Shell operates two additional FPSOs offshore Brazil.

"Achieving production at Lula South is an important accomplishment in the Santos Basin, and we recognise Petrobras' delivery of this critical milestone. Across Shell's deepwater business in Brazil, we're investing in projects with competitive break-even prices, and our presence as Brazil's second largest oil producer continues to grow," said Andy Brown, upstream director for Shell.

Boiler water treatment, a supercritical industrial process

“The industrial revolution was another of those extraordinary jumps forward in the story of civilisation,” the quote by Stephen Gardiner clearly explains how industrialization has changed all aspects of our life today. As we explore the various industrial techniques and processes, it is worth mentioning the incredible use of boilers in industrial processes. Without this critical piece of equipment, most of the chemical & industrial processes would not have come into existence. Whether it’s a simple food manufacturing process or a more complex nuclear fission reaction, the role of a boiler remains inevitable. To ensure that the boiler runs smoothly and efficiently in the long run, it is important to treat it in a proper way, failing which the boiler would lose it efficiency.

What are boiler water treatment chemicals?

The efficiency of the boiler majorly depends on the feedwater used. Untreated water, such as water from rivers, municipality bores and taps can cause severe damage to the boiler. Hence, it's critical to completely remove, or chemically modify the various substances present in untreated water. This is an important step in all chemical process which will avoid any potential damage to the boiler. The chemicals used in treating the feedwater are called the boiler water treatment chemicals.

(If you have landed on this page, then probably you might be in need of a quick look around of boiler treatment chemicals. Or you are searching for a reliable chemical supplier near you, or you might need a little help for an academic project on boilers and water treatment chemicals. Why not subscribe to worldofchemicals.com and get any chemistry information, not just water treatment chemicals. Join our mailing list, or subscribe to our monthly magazine “Chemical Today,” being delivered to your doorstep.)

Hazards of using untreated water in boilers

Boilers are mainly known for their heat transfer abilities. When untreated water is used, the heat transfer ability is drastically reduced and leads to overheating, pressure drop, tube failure and efficiency loss. This is due to dissolved salts and minerals present in water, which eventually gets deposited over the sides of the boiler. Moreover, the dissolved gases in untreated feedwater will lead to corrosion of the piping system and reduced efficiency of the boiler. Hence, it is mandatory to conduct a water treatment programme before it is being used in the boilers.

Boiler water treatment methods

Oxygen Scavengers to Prevent Corrosion: Corrosion of boilers occurs when untreated feedwater is used. The dissolved oxygen in the feedwater reacts with the metal scales of the boiler to form oxides. This can be prevented by using oxygen scavengers (also known as oxygen absorbers), that’ll remove or reduce the level of oxygen in the entire system. The most commonly used oxygen scavengers are activated charcoal and a mixer of iron powder with sodium chloride.

Alkalinity builders: All industrial process work at an optimal pH range, failing which appropriate results cannot be obtained. Most of the high pressure reactions need a high pH level. To increase the pH level, chemically modified substances called alkalinity builders are added to the boiler. Most industrial process use concentrated sodium hydroxide based alkalinity builders, which are balanced with phosphates, chelants, carbonates and certain polymers.

Scale and corrosion inhibitors: One of the major issues that affect the operations of industrial boilers is accumulation of salt deposits on the internal lining of the system. As a part of the equipment maintenance, scale and corrosion inhibitors are used. The common inhibitors are catalysed sodium bisulphite, carbohydrazide, diethyl hydroxylamine and cyclohexylamine. Oxygen scavengers also work well as scale and corrosion inhibitors.

Sludge conditioners: If the boiler is not maintained properly, suspended particles tend to settle at the lining of the system. If left untreated, it can drastically reduce the boiler efficiency. A sludge conditioner is often used to remove and clean the boilers. At some instances, it is also used to prevent and control scale formation.

Other chemicals: In addition to the above said methods to treat feedwater, there are numerous other water treatment methods that are process-specific. Condensate line protection and multi-functional treatments are some of the important methods used in treating the boiler feedwater.

Have more queries on boiler water treatment? Or need an elaborate answer on “what are water treatment chemicals?” Write to us at info@worldofchemicals.com

Leading boiler water treatment chemicals manufacturers

The key players operating in the global boiler water treatment chemicals market:

BASF SE

Akzo Nobel N.V.

Ecolab Inc.

Kemira OYJ

Suez Environment

Veolia International

King Lee Technologies

Ion Exchange India Ltd

The Dow Chemical Company

GE Water and Process Technologies

The current trends in boiler water treatment chemicals

The boiler water treatment chemicals market is ever-expanding and has no threat of slowing down in near future. Based on a recent report, the market for 2016-2026 identifies an anticipated growth in the industry. The boiler water treatment chemicals market is an on-going trend in the segments that include corrosion inhibitors, coagulants, flocculants, pH boosters, oxygen scavengers and scale inhibitors to name a few. Whereas, based on the end-user analysis, the boiler water treatment chemicals market will see a huge growth in various industries that include power, steel, metals, petrochemicals, oil refineries, textiles, dyes, paper mills, sugar mills, food and beverages among others.

Asia Pacific, particularly, China and India dominates the global boiler water treatment chemicals production, whereas North America is also a favourable market. The boiler water treatment chemicals market in GCC, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa will also expand rapidly. There is an increased market growth for boiler water treatment chemicals in Middle East and Africa too.

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